University of Maryland Building Evacuated After Hostage Hoax

Armed police officers swarmed the Main Administration Building on the University of Maryland's College Park campus. (Photo from @rhd777)

UPDATED: Sept. 3, 2014 5:20 p.m.

LANHAM, Md. (WNEW) — Armed police officers swarmed a building at the University of Maryland on Wednesday after a hostage hoax was called in to authorities.

Campus police sent out an alert to the university community around 3:30 p.m. advising students and staff to avoid the area surrounding the Main Administration Building. Police said officers received an anonymous phone call reporting a gunman holding a person hostage inside the building.

Police officers evacuated and conducted a sweep of the building, and also conducted a sweep of the nearby Lee and Mitchell buildings.

Photos from the scene showed several officers with weapons drawn aimed at the building.